Your progress in psychotherapy is based, in part, upon a good
therapeutic relationship with me.
Good relationships are grounded in open communication and require
each person to be honest with the other, to avoid
misunderstandings. This page details information about
appointments, fees,
insurance coverage, telephone availability and other "nuts
and bolts" matters of my practice.
After reading this page, please feel free to contact me with any
questions you have. The process
of psychotherapy is most effective when you discuss any issues
which are on your mind, even if
they seem difficult to talk about, or unrelated to your primary
concern. If doubts persist regarding our work together, I will be
happy to assist you in obtaining consulation with another
provider.

Appointments

Initial evaluation sessions are scheduled for one hour.
Thereafter, therapy sessions are
generally scheduled for 45 to 50 minute sessions, once weekly.
Other arrangements may be made to fit your needs. You will get
the most from your sessions if you are on time, If you're late,
the bill
will be the same as for a full session. Your therapy will be most
effective if we meet
regularly, at the time we set aside. I realize that emergencies
may, on rare occasions, prevent
us from meeting. Please try to give as much advance notice as
possible if you won't be able to
make your appointment. Because I set aside this time for you and
cannot offer it to other
patients without adequate notice, I will bill you for the
appointments you miss without 24 hours
notice, except in emergencies. Your insurance company policy may
override this policy.

Fees

My fees are $145.00 for an initial evaluation session, $100.00
for each subsequent 50 - minute
session of individual psychotherapy, psychological testing,
report writing or other professional
service, and $40.00 for each 75 - minute group psychotherapy
session. Please pay your fee, any
deductible, or co - payment at the end of each session; make
checks payable to "C.S. Spayd,
Ph.D.". If you are having financial problems which make it
difficult to pay for your
psychotherapy, please tell me. Generally, we can work together to
resolve this problem. If you
don't pay your bill and choose not to discuss this issue with me,
I will not be able to schedule
any further sessions until the bill is paid.

Health Care Insurance

Our office does submit insurance claims for Medicare and managed
care programs. For others, you are asked to pay at the time of
service, then submit the statement I will provide you with each
month to your insurance company. Many policies cover some of the
costs of psychological
services, but most have annual limits, co-payments, or other
limits. To determine these
limitations, you should read your policy carefully, or consult
your insurance carrier. Insurance
companies don't pay for missed sessions, and usually not for
telephone therapy.

Telephone Messages

Most of my work time is spent in sessions with my patients.
Therefore, I am often not available
to personally answer your call. Please leave a confidential
message on my answering machine, with
your name, phone number(s) at which you may be reached that day,
what times, and a brief
message. I will return your call as soon as possible, usually
within that day.

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency,
please call:

Altoona Hospital Mental Health Crisis Line, at
946-2141

OR

PathWays Mental Health
Programs for Older Adults, at 949-4260

The Facility

Duscansville Professional Center is located in downtown
Duncansville on Third Avenue, between 8th and 9th Streets. There
is private parking behind the building. Amtran's Route 8 Bus,
serving
Hollidaysburg and Altoona, has a stop directly across the street.
The building is handicapped
accesssible. No smoking is permitted inside. Please go to the
directions page for more specific
directions.

Confidentiality

Unless you permit me to release information to others by written
consent, all of your work with
me, and even the fact that I see you remains fully confidential.
By law and the ethical
guidelines of my profession, I am permitted to break this
confidentiality only under limited
circumstances (for details, go to the Consent
Form for Psychological Treatment)